BCE Inc. already owns 44 per cent of Bell Aliant and has said Bell Aliant will maintain its separate identity with customers and remain a regional affiliate of the Montreal-based parent company.

However, things like billing and product development will be integrated to reduce expenses if the deal is completed as expected by the end of November.

Bell Aliant will continue to serve customers in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island while its regional telecom operations in rural Ontario and Quebec will join Bell Canada.

As part of the BCE privatization offer, Bell Aliant said the quarterly dividend on common shares that would otherwise have been payable on Oct. 6, will not be paid by Bell Aliant.